Monday, July 23, 2018

Project Graphic: Photo taken August 22, 2014, candlelight vigil. A group of Edmontonians gathered at Churchill Square for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of an aboriginal teen girl recently found murdered in Winnipeg.
On Sunday, Tina Fontaine,15, was found wrapped up in a bag and dumped in the Red River in Winnipeg. She had been in the city for less than a month and had run away from her foster home. Edmonton Sun

After the vigil we all walked together down to the North Saskatchewan river in darkness, each carrying a candle. I knew the area so I was elected to lead the way to a floating dock behind the Shaw Conference center. We each placed our candles into the river and they floated downstream forming a long necklace of light into the night.

She smiles after all that

Vimy-Not a Bystander

Non Violence Oilers Jersey

The Oilers Jersey was added to this art project as a third installment after the Oilers hockey team eliminated the San Jose Sharks during playoff season. Reports by local news media surfaced of a boy being bullied at the game and a woman being punched in the face after a game. Both were wearing San Jose jerseys. These acts of fan violence may have jinxed the home team's winning abilities in a City once known as Champions.The 2017 Not a Bystander art project began late March 2017 after I conducted a survey over 2 days in front of City Hall and next to the Alberta Legislature. It was determined from my survey that I should create an art project that inspires hope and promotes healing while focusing on the difficult topics of anger, violence and bullying. Several people surveyed said we get enough bad news everyday from the news media, so keep it positive. Survey Link

My 2016 Fire and Rain art project helped

influence my 2017 Not a Bystander art project

5 AM in morning darkness preparing my canvas for a painting

September 21, 2016: 5 AM this morning I prepared a canvas using a projector and sketch study I drew last week during one of my outdoor art shows in front of the Alberta Legislature. Titled "On guard for thee." This painting became the new signature painting for my 2016 Fire and Rain art project after I had destroyed my original signature painting in a fit of anger, rage and frustration after being verbally banned on the Alberta Legislature grounds a 3rd time by an official with Alberta Legislature Visitors Services.

Original signature painting destroyed

Fire and Rain, Prospect Point

Losing my cool and destroying something I loved prompted me to look in the mirror and say to myself "I must try to never allow my emotions to get the better of me" The following year my next art project would focus my canvases on anger, violence and bullying and my own anger issues would become an integral part of my art project. The 2016 Fire and Rain art project.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. And unless it wants to break faith with its social function, art must show the world as changeable. And help to change it. Ernst Fischer

If you want the people to hear you, you have to say it 10-15 times. This one of several non hockey fan violence banners was featured during the womans march and later posted on this city provided kiosk next to Remedies for almost 2 months. It cost a dollar to make.

The Oiler's Jersey became the 3rd installment to the project during the Oiler's playoff season when negative news reports began to surface of hockey fan violence and bullying with headlines like 'Female Edmonton Fan Punched in the Face for Wearing San Jose Jersey' Global News and 'A Young San Jose Sharks Fan Bullied at an Edmonton Oilers Game for Wearing a San Jose Jersey' Global News. It just made logical sense adding the Non-Violence Oilers Jersey to the project.

I decided to wear my Oilers Non-Violence Jersey all year on street corners, during rallies, protests, outside roger's Place before games and during civic and provincial functions. The #McJesusJinx was later added after someone had posted posters on City provided kiosks during pre-season hockey with the words ' 'We Pray to Connor McJesus for a Stanley Cup'.

Not a Bystander: Today our Alberta Education Minister David Eggen confronted racism on the steps of the Alberta Legislature.

Hate; I'm not afraid of you - Lewis Cardinal: YouTube by Doug Brinkman: https://youtu.be/fBAuK_t43k0. Artist Log August 21, 2017: Tonight I wore my Edmonton Oilers Non(Fan)Violence Jersey to Chevy Rabbit's 6th annual #H82Hope rally, staged in front of the Alberta Legislature steps. At first I stood alone during the speeches as the crowd stayed well away from the steps. After Lewis Cardinal gave a speech about countering hate with love, the emcee invited everyone to move in closer. I knew the Oilers Jersey and not me personally that was intimidating for some at the rally.

Last night I attended a candle light vigil for the victims of violence and bullying "Don't Be A Bystander" at the Alberta Legislature and listened to many special guest speakers talk about this topic, They shared experiences, ideas and solutions of how we can stand up and counter violence and bullying by not being a bystander. I wore my Edmonton Oiler Jersey "Non Violence #1" and brought along from the 2017 "Not a Bystander" art project "She smiles after all that" and shared my goal with several people after the vigil of how I'm using my painting to inspire dialog about anger, violence and bullying with images of hope, healing, renewal, with love and beauty as suggested others from my surveys. Organizers Manwar Khan center (white shirt) next to his wife on his left who emceed tonight's Don't Be A Bystander candlelight vigil. Thanks to all the volunteers and Sheriff Harris who stood by on guard for everyone tonight. Tonight was my 130th outdoor art show and demonstration since the start of the year. http://www.ciactivist.org/ My project ends December 20, 2017.

147th art show: I made my first stop before the #ABLeg to the Edmonton General to visit my long time co-worker friend John Orfino and give him his own personal art showing of the "2017 Not a Bystander" art collection. A huge hockey fan we enjoyed each others company and he's invited me back next week to show some more paintings and share thier stories. Today I wore the "Non Violence" Oiler Jersey and shared the stories about the painting "She smiles after all that" both part of the art project...

The complete 2017 Not a Bystander art collection is laid out before the Alberta Legislature, Edmonton, Alberta on treaty 6 Territory, Canada. On the bottom left of the photo a small painting from last years 2016 The Fire and Rain art project. Other smaller paintings were given away as gifts during public art shows.

The 2017 Not a Bystander art collection that began late March was completed Canada Day and will continue to tour city streets and public squares of Edmonton until December 20, 2017.

On my way to the Alberta Legislature to do my 72 nd. outdoor art show of the 2017 Not a Bystander art project I was thrilled and honoured taking a picture of friends Paul Franklin and his pal Achilles next to my painting Vimy- Not a Bystander. Paul lost both his legs in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan and has since become a nationally known advocate for amputees. Achilles loves making his rounds getting petted and enjoys Mexican tacos at local eateries. Paul recently returned home from France after participating in the commemoration of (battle of) Vimy (Ridge)100

Next to the start of Vimy-Not a Bystander: Laurie Daniel Hawn PC CD is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre from 2006 until 2015. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence from October 10, 2007 until May 24, 2011.

She just came up to me and smiled, took my paint brush and palette from me and began to paint. Her Husband looked shocked and I said "Its okay, this is exactly what I wanted to see happen with this art project, community participation!"

A man who is a comic artist was also invited to add a few brush strokes to my painting "She smiles after all that..." part of the Not A Bystander art project that invites community input.

Other participants included these school children who suggested I paint something that represents Ying and Yang, MLA (Wildrose) David Hanson suggested a crow known for it's intelligence and MLA (ND) Rod Loyola suggested a yellow star that he says represents hope.

A man in front of Edmonton City Hall watched and kept me company as I added to the painting She smiles after all that.

Early April: First few days painting She smiles after all that inside Sir Winston Churchill square, Edmonton on Treaty 6 Territory. Last year my 2016 Fire and Rain art project endured 3 verbal bans by officials with the Government of Alberta and was threaten with police action by a City of Edmonton employee. The 2017 Not a Bystander art project was delayed as a result because I had to defend my right to freely express myself with art in public. I used art as my placard to picket in front of City Hall and on public sidewalks for 38 days. On March 10th I ended my picket after a meeting with the city. I received an apology and we agreed to work together so I can freely express myself as a Canadian with art without duress.

Doug Brinkman

The Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. - John F. Kennedy, Address before the American Newspaper Publishers Association, April 27, 1961. Artist bio